Friends of St. Josephs Bay

Blog

February 23, 2018

Tram Tours on SECOND Friday of each month!

The second Friday of the month is set aside for TRAM Tours to the heart of the Buffer Preserve. 26 lucky people can enjoy a leisurely ride to observe nature - undisturbed. At certain times of the year -- certain rare, endangered or threatened plants are visible. Some of these plants are state protected and some federally. While we are not the only place one might observe these plants -- for some, we have the best populations of any other public place! There are Bald Eagle nest, tracts of various animals that call the Buffer home, trees, trails, and more.

We hope you will join us by calling 850-229-1787, Ext. 1 and making your reservation for a glorious ride. A guide from the Preserve will explain how such things as Low water crossings help with water flow to St. Joseph Bay. You will learn why and how prescribed burns are important to the Preserve. You will have a chance to ask questions and if your guide doesn't know the answer -- they will find the answer for you.

August 15, 2017

New Land Acquisitions for the Buffer Preserve

Two new tracts of land have been added to the St. Joseph Bay State Buffer Preserve this spring!

Friends of St. Joseph Bay Preserves purchased 20 quarter-acre lots adjacent to the north border of the Buffer Preserve on April 30. This five-acre tract is located off State Road 30A (but without road access) in Simmons Bayou. It is a wetland area which will enhance the conservation efforts of the Buffer Preserve.

The State of Florida Department of Environmental Protection, using money given by Eglin Air Force Base, bought the one-acre bay front lot just north of the Buffer Center on State Road 30A (two photos above). The lot is now under ownership of the Buffer Preserve! Eglin AFB provided funds for this purchase as part of its Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration (REPI) program. The REPI program involves partnership between Eglin AFB and a number of state and local government agencies, the Nature Conservancy, and the Florida Defense Alliance of Enterprise Florida, Inc. REPI has the goal of creating a Northwest Florida Greenway of protected land within a 100-mile corridor from the base, near Niceville, to the Apalachicola National Forest. Although protecting wildlife habitat and wildlife migration corridors may seem a surprising interest for the Air Force, there is an important military purpose. Eglin is host to Joint Strike Fighter training, which requires planes to fly in low to the base from a distance of 90 miles. While it conserves wildlife habitat, the Greenway also prevents development, construction, and human activities that would be sensitive to the low-flying planes. The Northwest Florida Greenway lies beneath or near airspace previously set aside for the special use of Eglin AFB.

From the Buffer’s perspective, the addition of this lot not only increases the amount of protected bay front land but also prevents undesirable development that might result in harm to marsh and sea grasses along the Buffer Center’s shore.

March 28, 2017

Splash Trash Tour at Buffer, Mar. 31 - Apr. 7

From March 30 – April 7, the St. Joseph Bay State Buffer Preserve is hosting the Splash Trash Tour to promote dialogue and action around trash in our oceans and what we can do to make a difference. The Tour features the Splash Trash Pop Up Show – a travelling gallery of charming artwork made from beach trash and an interactive hands-on exhibit fun for all ages.

What happens when trash hits the splash? As we all enjoy the beautiful Florida ocean and beaches, we are also facing an enormous challenge - trash in our oceans. It is having devastating effects on our sea and wildlife, our beaches, our local economies and our human health.

Special Events include:

· Trash in the Oceans and You – April 6, 10:00 – 11:00: What is the status of plastic trash in our oceans and what can we do to make a difference? Is recycling the answer? Is ocean clean-up technology the answer? Join Splash Trash creator, Bette Booth, in this interactive presentation to learn the answers to these and many other questions about trash in our oceans.

· Splash Trash Family Day Saturday April 1 – 10:00 – 2:00. Join artist Bette Booth while she is making a new art piece – “Catch of the Day”.

This is the final stop on the Splash Trash 2017 Florida Tour and the response has been overwhelming. As one visitor summarized, “Everyone needs to see this show. The message is that important.” Another commented, “It’s beautiful. It’s disturbing. It’s inspiring.”